Program Structure

The MPH Program is a two-year non-thesis program. It will normally be completed in three academic terms and one term devoted to a practicum.

The MPH program is available in two formats

  • Traditional classroom-based curriculum:
    On-campus classes scheduled on a Monday to Friday timetable.
  • Distributed learning format:
    Each course consists of 3 full days, one day per month. An additional 15 hours of curriculum is online for each course. Full day classes will be scheduled either Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Courses will be scheduled so that a full course load (four classes) can take place over 3 extended weekends) (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) in a term. For more information on our DL format, please see FAQ's.

A total of 42 credits are required to graduate.

21 required credits

  • SPPH 400 Statistics for Health Research
  • SPPH 500 Analytic Methods in Epidemiologic Research
  • SPPH 502 Epidemiologic Methods
  • SPPH 524 Core Biological Concepts of Public Health Diseases
  • SPPH 525 Issues and Concepts in Public Health
  • SPPH 526 Leadership in Public Health
  • SPPH 540 Health Services Research I or SPPH 581D Health Care Priority Setting

15 elective credits

Within the School of Population and Public Health, a variety of courses are available that reflect the core functions of public health:

  • Epidemiology & Biostatistics
  • Global and Indigenous Health
  • Health Care Services and Systems
  • Maternal-Child Health
  • Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Public Health, Emerging Threats, Rapid Response
  • Social and Life Course Determinants of Health

Click here for a full list of SPPH courses. Up to 9 UBC credits may be taken outside of the School of Population and Public Health.


6 credit practicum SPPH 508.

A practicum takes place in a public health agency and conclude with a final report. Most students will complete their practicum in one academic term (12 weeks) on a full time basis. A part time placement over a longer period or over the summer months is also negotiable.

Students will be assigned a faculty advisor upon admission to the program. The advisor will advise on choices for elective courses and appropriate practicum settings.

Visit our FAQ webpage for further answers to your questions.

What's New

MPH Applications for September 2012 has now closed.

Applicants can check their document status online.  Please see FAQ's as response time from department is slow this time of year.  This deadline is strict for receipt of all application documents.  Late documents will not be accepted.

Deadline February 28, 2012 for Unclassified Student Requests

Deadlines for Visiting Students applying to take SPPH courses starting May 2012 can be found here.

Prisons not Progress

Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy National Conference 2012 will be held March 2-4 2012 in Calgary, Aberta.  More details here.

Call for Abstracts

Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics National Student Conference deadline is March 15, 2012.  More details here.

Deadline March 30, 2012 for Western Deans' Student Requests

Deadlines for Visiting Students applying to take SPPH courses starting May 2012 can be found here.

CPHA Annual Conference held June 11-14th, 2012 in Edmonton

Congratulations to the MPH students invited to present at this conference.

a place of mind, The University of British Columbia

Faculty of Medicine

MPH Program
School of Population and
Public Health
Tel: (604) 822-9207
Fax: (604) 822-4994
E-mail: mph@spph.ubc.ca

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